Asia

1. On August 24, commencing at around 6:15 p.m. for approximately 25 minutes, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, received a courtesy call from Mr. Wang Yi, Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, and Mr. Yun Byung-se, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, who are visiting Japan to attend the Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, was also present during the courtesy call.

2. At the beginning, Prime Minister Abe welcomed the foreign ministers to Japan, and then explained that North Korea’s launch of a missile which was considered to be a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) on the day of the Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting is a security threat security that must be taken seriously. Prime Minister Abe noted that Japan, China and the ROK have a responsibility for the peace and stability of the region and there is a need for the three countries to cooperate, including with regard to this issue. Prime Minister Abe said he hopes the three countries would also work together for the success of the G20, which will be held in September.

3. Furthermore, Prime Minister Abe mentioned that based on the outcomes of today’s foreign ministers’ meeting he would like to host the Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Summit Meeting in Japan this year, with the aim of further development of the region.